Colobostema hoffmannae, Huerta, Herón & Ibáñez-Bernal, Sergio, 2008

Colobostema hoffmannae View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–8 View FIGURES 1 – 5 View FIGURES 6 – 9 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE male, labeled: MEXICO, Yucatan, Ria Lagartos Reserve, Municipio Tizimin, 4.2 km S Biological Station El Cuyo “Zac-bo”( 21º 28’ 58” N, 87º 42’ 02” W), forest, 19-III-1996, Malaise trap, HH, PMS, RPR, cols. Specimen dissected and mounted on microscopic slide, deposited in CAIM.

Description. Male. Head ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1 – 5 ): Eyes with interfacet pubescence; head height including mouthparts 0.38 mm. Antennae brown, with abundant sensilla; distal flagellomere club-shaped, length 0.10 mm; flagellomeres 1–8 length 0.55 mm ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1 – 5 ). Maxillary palpus brown, with a rounded and moderately deep sensory pit at apex, length 0.06 mm ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 1 – 5 ). Thorax: Brown, scutum sparsely covered with short setae; 5 supraalar setae; anterior spiracular sclerite with 13 setae ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 1 – 5 ); anepisternum with 4 anterior setae and some lateral setae; 3 katepisternals setae. Legs pale brown, with sparse setae; femora lengths (anterior-hind): 0.33 mm; 0.36 mm and 0.46 mm. Tibiae lengths (anterior-hind): 0.29 mm; 0.32 mm and 0.48 mm. Hind tibia with faint pale annulation in median portion. All tarsi pale brown and claws strongly curved; empodia present. Wing length 1.43 mm, width 0.61 mm; membrane densely micropilose on whole surface. Veins R1 and R4+5 (Rs) with irregularly arranged rows of short setae on dorsal surface; C length 1.0 mm, as long as 0.7 the wing length; Sc faint, incomplete; r-m short; fork of M symmetrical; M1 and M2 complete; false vein present; CuA1 complete; CuA2 curved at middle ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1 – 5 ). Halter pale brown. Abdomen: Segment 7 covered with small setae; sternite 7 length 0.13 mm, width 0.40 mm, the posterior margin regular and concave ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 6 – 9 ); tergite 7 length 0.14 mm, width 0.30 mm, the posterior margin with two triangular lobes separated by a rounded concavity ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 6 – 9 ). Genital capsule massive ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 6 – 9 ); gonocoxite short and robust, with pointed apex, length, 0.11 mm, width, 0.05 mm; parameres triangular with pointed apex; penis elongate and curved, length 0.16 mm; tergite 9 triangular, its apex narrowly rounded and with strong sculpture, length 0.14 mm, width at base 0.18 mm.

Female: unknown.

Comments. Colobostema hoffmannae sp. nov., closely resembles Colobostema variatum Cook. Nevertheless , C. hoffmannae sp. nov., has the tergite 9 triangular, with its apex narrow and strong sculptured, the parameres triangular and apically pointed, and the tergite 7 with developed pointed lobes, whereas C. variatum Cook , has the tergite 9 comparatively broad with its apex apparently smooth, the parameres elongate-oval with rounded apex, and tergite 7 with small rounded lobes separated by a shallow regular concavity.

Distribution. Mexico (Yucatan).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of the late Dr. Anita Hoffmann Mendizabal ( 1919–2007), her instruction and friendship was determinant in our academic formation. She was an important contributor to Acarology and Entomology, being a pioneer in the study of mites and ticks in Mexico.